How the S2 Cognition test became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints

AsylumGuido · 06-04-2023, 10:33 AM

How the S2 Cognition test debuted at LSU and became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints

BY JEFF DUNCAN | SPORTS COLUMNIST Jun 2, 2023

From the link above:

The Eureka moment came in 2014. The site was the LSU football complex.

Brandon Ally had just finished a meeting with LSU coaches, where he presented data from the S2 Cognition test he had given to all 109 players on the Tigers roster two weeks earlier. This was the beta run for the test, which Ally and fellow neuroscientist Scott Wylie created to measure how athletes process information and make split-second decisions during competition.

Ally’s reports identified strengths, weaknesses and tendencies for each player based on the test results.

When LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron read the information, he stood up and exclaimed to the room: "Holy (expletive), this kind of stuff would have saved me at least 12 months of evaluating players. This is gold."

Leaning on decades of experience in the field of neuroscience, Ally and Wylie created a system that grades players in several cognitive categories — perception speed, trajectory estimation, rhythm control, timing control, distraction control, impulse control, stopping control and instinctive learning — and quantifies it with a cumulative score based on the aggregate.

A score of 40-60% is considered average. Anything above 80% is elite.

Read the rest here ...

Rugby Saint II likes this.

AsylumGuido · 06-04-2023, 10:35 AM

The S2 test is completely different in nature than is the Wonderlic.

From the article:

Brees recorded a score that ranked “among the top 10 quarterbacks we’ve ever tested here,” Ally said. "In the areas of instinctive learning (identifying subtle clues and 'tells' from a defense) and distraction control (maintaining focus in the midst of chaos), Brees was almost “superhuman,” Ally said.

"In (instinctive learning), Drew is the best athlete we’ve ever tested in 10 years, across 40,000 athletes in nine sports, and that includes the top 10 Halo players in the world, Air Force pilots and video gamers," Ally said.

AsylumGuido · 06-04-2023, 10:38 AM

New Saints QB, Jake Haener, scored up to par with where both Brees and 49er's QB, Brock Purdy, graded.

Rugby Saint II · 06-04-2023, 03:29 PM

This was both interesting and informative. I am fascinated with how the brain processes information and this new scientific approach has redefined the way teams are approaching the draft. One thing about Gayle and Tom Benson that I respect is how much they are willing to spend money building the team with innovative thinking and creative technologies.

I must admit that I wasn't surprised to read that Drew Brees had the highest evaluation that they have ever recorded. It's really quite an amazing feat!

Pete · 06-05-2023, 12:56 AM

Top secret..
Shut up already then Duncan

BakoSaint · 06-05-2023, 01:08 AM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

New Saints QB, Jake Haener, scored up to par with where both Brees and 49er's QB, Brock Purdy, graded.

If we have known about this since 2014 and it actually worked we probably should have drafted Purdy in 2022 instead of a 6th rounder who didn't make the team. He would have beat out Dalton to start and if he was not the long term answer we could have flipped him for a 2nd rounder. Also I wonder what Taysom Hill's score was to get a big contract under the premise of possibly being our starting QB? And what about Garrett Grayson and Ian Book.

I feel like this is just a vendor taking the Saints brass to lunch and talking them into convincing Mrs Benson to open up her checkbook to buy some more lunches and semi-useful data that doesn't definitely predict much of anything and any competitor can buy too if a similar company isn't already buying their lunch.

06-04-2023, 10:33 AM	#1
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,274	How the S2 Cognition test became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints Twitter How the S2 Cognition test debuted at LSU and became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints BY JEFF DUNCAN \| SPORTS COLUMNIST Jun 2, 2023 From the link above: The Eureka moment came in 2014. The site was the LSU football complex. Brandon Ally had just finished a meeting with LSU coaches, where he presented data from the S2 Cognition test he had given to all 109 players on the Tigers roster two weeks earlier. This was the beta run for the test, which Ally and fellow neuroscientist Scott Wylie created to measure how athletes process information and make split-second decisions during competition. Ally’s reports identified strengths, weaknesses and tendencies for each player based on the test results. When LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron read the information, he stood up and exclaimed to the room: "Holy (expletive), this kind of stuff would have saved me at least 12 months of evaluating players. This is gold." Leaning on decades of experience in the field of neuroscience, Ally and Wylie created a system that grades players in several cognitive categories — perception speed, trajectory estimation, rhythm control, timing control, distraction control, impulse control, stopping control and instinctive learning — and quantifies it with a cumulative score based on the aggregate. A score of 40-60% is considered average. Anything above 80% is elite. Read the rest here ... Rugby Saint II likes this.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

06-04-2023, 10:35 AM	#2
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,274	Re: How the S2 Cognition test became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints The S2 test is completely different in nature than is the Wonderlic. From the article: Brees recorded a score that ranked “among the top 10 quarterbacks we’ve ever tested here,” Ally said. "In the areas of instinctive learning (identifying subtle clues and 'tells' from a defense) and distraction control (maintaining focus in the midst of chaos), Brees was almost “superhuman,” Ally said. "In (instinctive learning), Drew is the best athlete we’ve ever tested in 10 years, across 40,000 athletes in nine sports, and that includes the top 10 Halo players in the world, Air Force pilots and video gamers," Ally said.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill

06-04-2023, 10:38 AM	#3
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,274	Re: How the S2 Cognition test became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints New Saints QB, Jake Haener, scored up to par with where both Brees and 49er's QB, Brock Purdy, graded.

06-04-2023, 03:29 PM	#4
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Re: How the S2 Cognition test became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints This was both interesting and informative. I am fascinated with how the brain processes information and this new scientific approach has redefined the way teams are approaching the draft. One thing about Gayle and Tom Benson that I respect is how much they are willing to spend money building the team with innovative thinking and creative technologies. I must admit that I wasn't surprised to read that Drew Brees had the highest evaluation that they have ever recorded. It's really quite an amazing feat!

06-05-2023, 12:56 AM	#5
Pete • Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Patterson, LA Posts: 1,753	Re: How the S2 Cognition test became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints Top secret.. Shut up already then Duncan

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06-05-2023, 01:08 AM	#6
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,173	Re: How the S2 Cognition test became a secret weapon for the Tigers and Saints Originally Posted by AsylumGuido New Saints QB, Jake Haener, scored up to par with where both Brees and 49er's QB, Brock Purdy, graded. If we have known about this since 2014 and it actually worked we probably should have drafted Purdy in 2022 instead of a 6th rounder who didn't make the team. He would have beat out Dalton to start and if he was not the long term answer we could have flipped him for a 2nd rounder. Also I wonder what Taysom Hill's score was to get a big contract under the premise of possibly being our starting QB? And what about Garrett Grayson and Ian Book. I feel like this is just a vendor taking the Saints brass to lunch and talking them into convincing Mrs Benson to open up her checkbook to buy some more lunches and semi-useful data that doesn't definitely predict much of anything and any competitor can buy too if a similar company isn't already buying their lunch.
BakoSaint 1000 Posts + Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,173